Common Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

OTHER NAMES: Dark Clouded Yellow, Clouded Yellow

Latin Etymology: Colias (named after goddess Kōlias) croceus ("yellow/golden")

Adult Common Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus - unknown subspecies) at Donana, Spain - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: unknown
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 52-62mm

UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Common Clouded Yellow is one of the two large bright yellow butterflies found regularly in the UK along with the more greenish Brimstone.  It is fairly scarce in Britain, but is more common in Europe, and I found several around Donana in Southern Spain at a point in the year where only a few butterflies remained. 

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Colias
SUBSPECIES: C. c. chinensis, C. c. cremonae, C. c. edusina, C. c. helice

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An uncommon scarce annual migrant.

 - Butterflies seen at sites including The Lizard and Oare Marshes.

SPAIN - Common to locally abundant resident in appropriate habitat.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Seen near El Rocio

Further Notes:  BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto